Most consumers know that they use a phone card by dialing an access number which by-passes the local phone company so they can place their call over a low cost network. What many people do not know is there are both local and toll free access numbers. Access numbers vary between phone cards. Some phone cards will have a wide network of local and toll free access numbers and others offer relatively few local access numbers. Most phone card service providers will charge extra for using a toll free access number. The charge for using a toll free access number also varies between phone card service providers so consumers should note this when shopping for a phone card. In some cases, using a toll free access number is free or it only adds a fraction of a cent per-minute to the cost of a call but in other cases it can add 1, 2 or more cents per-minute to the cost of each call so it can be a significant additional cost. It is used by many merchants as a form of revenue or a hidden cost.

The added fee for using a toll free access number is not charged if the caller uses a local access number. Therefore, consumers who plan to make calls from landlines should shop for phone cards with local access numbers in the areas they plan to call from or use cards that charge a very small fee for using the toll free access number. Some callers should avoid using toll free access numbers unless there is no added charge for using them. For example, people using a phone card to make international calls from cell phones should only use local access numbers since they do not pay extra for making long distance calls and can use a local access number in another city or state if none are available in their local area.

The main thing is for consumers to be aware that all phone cards are not created equal and access number cost and availability is an important feature to consider when shopping for a phone card or other prepaid calling product.

Prepaid Call cards have been a rapidly-growing business, as well as an alternative mode for calling locally or overseas, for the past 10 years. In the early years, prepaid call cards were marked with lots of problems, until things got stable today, and the choices have widened.

At present, the consumer can find a lot of suppliers of prepaid calling cards, which have relatively similar rates. As the technology gets even better in the coming years, it is expected that the prepaid call card sector will play a major role in the global telecommunications business.

As early as ten years ago, few people had easy access to phone cards. Today, everyone can buy them at gas stations, supermarkets, discount stores, post offices, airports, and on the Internet. Collectors have magazines, newsletters, auctions, and on-line sites such as the Phone Card Market Report.

Prepaid Call Cards Offer Low Rates

The significant reason why prepaid calling cards offer very low rates to call internationally or domestic is because the technology they employ is different; firms selling phone cards use a combination of VoIP (Voice over IP) and regular lines to maintain a balance between call quality and low costs. And to add, since the calling cards are pre-paid, which means you pay in advance for the amount of talk time you'll be having, there are some other costs reduced, like the ones for collections or debt retrieval.

Regular phone firms use a different technology, which is far more expensive and therefore they charge higher fees, which generally reflect in your monthly bill. However, that doesn't mean that they couldn't lower their costs, but since the money is coming in, this is not an option for them in the meantime.

Prepaid Cards Offer More Than Just Low Costs

And if the low call costs and quality are not good enough for people, here's another good reason for using prepaid call cards: You have control over how much you pay. With calling cards, you put a certain amount, and usually you can find Cheap Calling Cards for around $5, $10, $20, $50, and other denominations, on your calling card.

You could use the talk time at your convenience, as well as you can check at any time the balance on the pin and if you decide to get some more, just repeat the process. The ease of use is the main factor consumers gobble up prepaid call cards. No bills and no hassles. Customers can enjoy their calls without having a huge bill on their doorsteps every month, while having low rates and good connectivity.

Choosing which prepaid call card to purchase can be a headache sometimes. New issuers and firms continually enter the market, pricing is so competitive, and consumer protection is sometimes spotty. Consumers need to ask themselves several questions and find answers that can help them make a safe and informed prepaid card purchasing decision.

For long conversations, however, a calling card may be a better option. First, the longer the call, the less the surcharge affects the overall bill. Second, depending on your phone carrier, you might be able to take advantage of special weekend or nighttime discounts. And third, you need not worry about running out of time. Prepaid call cards do provide a security advantage: When a card is lost or stolen, you lose only the balance on your card.

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